In you, O LORD, I take refuge, let me never be put to shame.
Psalm 71:1
When I began to research this Psalm, the first thing that struck me was that it is labeled an “old man’s “ or “old person’s” Psalm. David is lamenting his old age and his inabilities to continue on as he had as a young man, worried that in his old age he will shame himself before his enemies, peoples and God. Having just celebrated my “half century” birthday, I found this to be a bit of a downer. Is this what I have to look forward to in my old age?
Luckily that’s not where the story ends. David remembers the many tough times in his life and to his encouragement finds that God was with him each time—his refuge. Why should this time, old age, be any different? Despite the pains and embarrassments of growing old, he sings God’s praises because he knows that God has been and always will be his refuge—all he need do is ask.
In this time of Lent let us reflect on the tough times where God was by our side and find encouragement in knowing that, even into our old age, He will be with us always - our constant refuge.
Dona Bushong
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 6, 2009
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations….
Isaiah 42:6
Isaiah 42 is often called The Servant Chapter. God is calling us to be his servants by spreading the word of God to all nations. The word of God is called in these verses “the light.” God, Jesus and Christians are often called the Light of the World. We are to be disciples of Christ, telling others the Good News, converting non-believers and those that worship idols.
We sing a song called This Little Light of Mine. We sing that we are going to let this light shine, all of the time. We also sing that we are not going to hide it under a bushel. In other words, we are not to be reticent about being a follower of Christ nor reticent about leading others to Christ. God is asking us to spread His word. Be his light to everyone. All people are attracted to light. Let us be the light of Christ this Lenten Season. It might also be useful to read the words of The Servant Song found in the 9:00 Celebration Service Song Book. It definitely reflects the meaning of this verse in our lives today. Go forward and be God’s servant.
Cynthia Steuart
Isaiah 42:6
Isaiah 42 is often called The Servant Chapter. God is calling us to be his servants by spreading the word of God to all nations. The word of God is called in these verses “the light.” God, Jesus and Christians are often called the Light of the World. We are to be disciples of Christ, telling others the Good News, converting non-believers and those that worship idols.
We sing a song called This Little Light of Mine. We sing that we are going to let this light shine, all of the time. We also sing that we are not going to hide it under a bushel. In other words, we are not to be reticent about being a follower of Christ nor reticent about leading others to Christ. God is asking us to spread His word. Be his light to everyone. All people are attracted to light. Let us be the light of Christ this Lenten Season. It might also be useful to read the words of The Servant Song found in the 9:00 Celebration Service Song Book. It definitely reflects the meaning of this verse in our lives today. Go forward and be God’s servant.
Cynthia Steuart
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 5, 2009
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
Philippians 2:5-7
The early Church spent four hundred years from the time of the Resurrection until 451 AD before agreeing on the Formula of Chalcedon (BCP page 864) which defined “The Union of the Devine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ”. It seems that, whenever we approach a truth about God, we encounter paradox. Then, what did that man of flesh and blood, Jesus of Nazareth, understand about himself? Many scholars think that Jesus’ self-understanding unfolded as time went on. At least from the time of his baptism in the Jordan, his was a life of self-offering, self-oblation. It was a life of saying “Yes” to the Father and ultimately going willingly to his death on the cross. Along the way he must have at least glimpsed the truth of his own divinity. It is a wholesome thing to acknowledge something of a divine spark in each of us, else how could it be said that we are made in the image and likeness of God? We can regard this as an invitiation to holiness, which is the simple choice each of us can make—to conform ourselves to God’s will for us.
John Huntington+
Philippians 2:5-7
The early Church spent four hundred years from the time of the Resurrection until 451 AD before agreeing on the Formula of Chalcedon (BCP page 864) which defined “The Union of the Devine and Human Natures in the Person of Christ”. It seems that, whenever we approach a truth about God, we encounter paradox. Then, what did that man of flesh and blood, Jesus of Nazareth, understand about himself? Many scholars think that Jesus’ self-understanding unfolded as time went on. At least from the time of his baptism in the Jordan, his was a life of self-offering, self-oblation. It was a life of saying “Yes” to the Father and ultimately going willingly to his death on the cross. Along the way he must have at least glimpsed the truth of his own divinity. It is a wholesome thing to acknowledge something of a divine spark in each of us, else how could it be said that we are made in the image and likeness of God? We can regard this as an invitiation to holiness, which is the simple choice each of us can make—to conform ourselves to God’s will for us.
John Huntington+
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 4, 2009
My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Ezekiel 37:27
God gave the priest and prophet Ezekiel the task of uniting the people of Judah and Israel together as one people, as they both belonged to God. Throughout the text he did this through a variety of visionary messages. Ezekiel explained that God promised His land to all of his people, including the people of Judah and Israel. He explained that God was always with the people who dwelled in His land. In doing this, Ezekiel was trying to help the people to come together in preparation for a siege on Jerusalem. Together the people of Judah and Israel would be stronger working together than separately in protecting the land as a temple for all of God’s people. Finally, because there is no separation between God and his Temple, God and His land, God and His people, there is no separation between one another.
In reflection, today as Christians, we are reminded that God loves us all and that both individually and together we are all God’s people. Recognizing this, we should each work to unite as one people to do God’s will. If we do unite, we will all be stronger than we are alone. In periods of stress like our nation is experiencing now economically, and with conflicts abroad, we must continue to work to be united as one nation under God, with a single purpose of doing God’s will.
Douglas Ellmore, Sr., Leah Ellmore, and Douglas Ellmore, Jr.
Ezekiel 37:27
God gave the priest and prophet Ezekiel the task of uniting the people of Judah and Israel together as one people, as they both belonged to God. Throughout the text he did this through a variety of visionary messages. Ezekiel explained that God promised His land to all of his people, including the people of Judah and Israel. He explained that God was always with the people who dwelled in His land. In doing this, Ezekiel was trying to help the people to come together in preparation for a siege on Jerusalem. Together the people of Judah and Israel would be stronger working together than separately in protecting the land as a temple for all of God’s people. Finally, because there is no separation between God and his Temple, God and His land, God and His people, there is no separation between one another.
In reflection, today as Christians, we are reminded that God loves us all and that both individually and together we are all God’s people. Recognizing this, we should each work to unite as one people to do God’s will. If we do unite, we will all be stronger than we are alone. In periods of stress like our nation is experiencing now economically, and with conflicts abroad, we must continue to work to be united as one nation under God, with a single purpose of doing God’s will.
Douglas Ellmore, Sr., Leah Ellmore, and Douglas Ellmore, Jr.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 3, 2009
Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.
Jeremiah 20:13
The book of Jeremiah is one of the most difficult books of the Bible to understand. It is probably due to the fact that the prophet was so sure that God would reward those who did “Good” and punish those who did “Evil”, and do it in the sight of the world. Jeremiah’s entire prophetic pronouncements were based on Gods rewards and punishments, and when rewards did not fall to the good and punishments did not befall the bad, he complained to God. There are a number of his complaints to God in this book and the above verse comes from one of them. (You might want to read verses 7 thru18 of chapter 20 to get a feeling of Jeremiahs bitter complaint).
While there are those we know who complain to God about the same conditions that Jeremiah complained about, they do not strike us as true doers of the Word. Most of us in some way or another do complain to God when we, in our every day lives, see justice unrewarded and injustice unpunished. However, as Christians we must always remember, we have something going for us that Jeremiah did not. We have the mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus which alone will deliver the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
The Rev. Carl W. Rehling
Jeremiah 20:13
The book of Jeremiah is one of the most difficult books of the Bible to understand. It is probably due to the fact that the prophet was so sure that God would reward those who did “Good” and punish those who did “Evil”, and do it in the sight of the world. Jeremiah’s entire prophetic pronouncements were based on Gods rewards and punishments, and when rewards did not fall to the good and punishments did not befall the bad, he complained to God. There are a number of his complaints to God in this book and the above verse comes from one of them. (You might want to read verses 7 thru18 of chapter 20 to get a feeling of Jeremiahs bitter complaint).
While there are those we know who complain to God about the same conditions that Jeremiah complained about, they do not strike us as true doers of the Word. Most of us in some way or another do complain to God when we, in our every day lives, see justice unrewarded and injustice unpunished. However, as Christians we must always remember, we have something going for us that Jeremiah did not. We have the mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus which alone will deliver the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
The Rev. Carl W. Rehling
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 2, 2009
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Psalm 105:4
Such powerful advice! If there was an owner’s manual for mankind, I believe that this would be rule number ONE. I can easily imagine singing this for all to hear at the top of my lungs, or silently within my head as a reminder. Truly, when I take the time out of my busy, hectic schedule and seek the Lord, I am consistently rewarded with the warmth and love associated with His presence.
Unfortunately, I spend far too much time seeking my own answers and solutions to those issues that I encounter in this life. I often believe that I have to do it on my own in my own way. The truth is that I don’t have to do it alone. Our Lord is always beside me waiting for me to turn to Him. He is there with open arms and an open mind to provide me with direction, strength and might. Why do I so often forget this?
Maybe it’s because many of these times I feel that I am unworthy and that God is not by my side that He is ashamed and has moved away from me. In fact I know and realize today that it is I who has turned my back on Him, not the other way around. In those times when I have successfully sought the Lord, he has provided incredible help and guidance, his strength has become my strength. In the Gospel of Matthew; 6:33, this point is reemphasized: “Seek ye First the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Joe Carta
Psalm 105:4
Such powerful advice! If there was an owner’s manual for mankind, I believe that this would be rule number ONE. I can easily imagine singing this for all to hear at the top of my lungs, or silently within my head as a reminder. Truly, when I take the time out of my busy, hectic schedule and seek the Lord, I am consistently rewarded with the warmth and love associated with His presence.
Unfortunately, I spend far too much time seeking my own answers and solutions to those issues that I encounter in this life. I often believe that I have to do it on my own in my own way. The truth is that I don’t have to do it alone. Our Lord is always beside me waiting for me to turn to Him. He is there with open arms and an open mind to provide me with direction, strength and might. Why do I so often forget this?
Maybe it’s because many of these times I feel that I am unworthy and that God is not by my side that He is ashamed and has moved away from me. In fact I know and realize today that it is I who has turned my back on Him, not the other way around. In those times when I have successfully sought the Lord, he has provided incredible help and guidance, his strength has become my strength. In the Gospel of Matthew; 6:33, this point is reemphasized: “Seek ye First the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Joe Carta
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Lenten Reflection - April 1, 2009
If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us.
Daniel 3:17
This passage reflects the words spoken by three men of Judah after they were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar for failing to worship a gold statue. The King decreed that anyone who did not bow to and worship the gold idol would be thrown into the blazing furnace. Refusing to obey the King's decree, the men of Judah were turned over to the King by his officers. When the King threatened that the men would be thrown into the furnace and mocked God's power to save them, the men responded that they did not need to defend God. They told the King of their faith in God who would save them, but that even if God did not save them, they would never serve the king's gods or bow to his false idols.
The message of this passage is simple. What will we do when our faith is tested? Will we bow to false idols or will we summon the strength shown by the men of Judah, submit to our faith in God and our belief that He can save us from the blazing furnace? When we are tested, our faith is only as strong as our efforts have been to strengthen it. If we fail to set aside time to reflect upon the Word and the messages God has for us, we can't possibly nurture and grow our faith so that we are ready. Like any other aspect of our lives where we want to succeed, faith takes work, commitment and perseverance.
Katina Steuart
Daniel 3:17
This passage reflects the words spoken by three men of Judah after they were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar for failing to worship a gold statue. The King decreed that anyone who did not bow to and worship the gold idol would be thrown into the blazing furnace. Refusing to obey the King's decree, the men of Judah were turned over to the King by his officers. When the King threatened that the men would be thrown into the furnace and mocked God's power to save them, the men responded that they did not need to defend God. They told the King of their faith in God who would save them, but that even if God did not save them, they would never serve the king's gods or bow to his false idols.
The message of this passage is simple. What will we do when our faith is tested? Will we bow to false idols or will we summon the strength shown by the men of Judah, submit to our faith in God and our belief that He can save us from the blazing furnace? When we are tested, our faith is only as strong as our efforts have been to strengthen it. If we fail to set aside time to reflect upon the Word and the messages God has for us, we can't possibly nurture and grow our faith so that we are ready. Like any other aspect of our lives where we want to succeed, faith takes work, commitment and perseverance.
Katina Steuart
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